宇宙的大尺度结构

在宇宙的已观测的范围内,从尺度10~(10)cm直到10~(26)cm可视物质的分布是不均匀的。对星系三维分布的研究结果表明,绝大多数的星系集中在由星系的带、群和团组成的超星系团中;而在超星系团之间是几乎没有可视天体的巨洞。宇宙的大尺度结构(在尺度10Mpc—10~2Mpc上星系分布不均匀性的特征)似乎是网状的。对类星体红移分布的统计分析结果表明,在大尺度结构中可能有周期性分布的成分。周期尺度是10~2Mpc的数量级。 在另一方面,关于微波背景辐射的温度起伏的观测(δT/T 10~(-5),在角尺度10′—180°的范围)表明,宇宙中的物质在更大尺度(10~3Mpc)上的分布是均匀的。 大尺度结构是怎样从早期均匀的背景宇宙中增长起来的?这是在宇宙学中最重要也是最困难的问题上一;要解决这个问题需要有关于宇宙的完善的模型。目前所流行的、关于大尺度结构的理论,基本上是以膨胀宇宙论和密度扰动的理论为基础的理论。 在绝热密度扰动(假定初始扰动是绝热的)的方案中,有两种观念特别值得注意: 1,宇宙密度波的观念。在早期宇宙中的扰动有可能在氢复合前形成有物理意义的相干波列;这种波——“宇宙密度波”在氢复合之后有可能影响物质的分布。作为宇宙密度波的可观测遗迹,可以解释已观测的星系分布不均匀性的上限尺度,以及在类星     

微波背景辐射与宇宙大尺度结构的形成

本文综述了近年来国际上对微波背景辐射的各向异性和谱畸变问题的主要研究成果。这一研究可以提供早期宇宙演化的重要信息,对研究初始密度扰动谱、宇宙暗物质、星系及宇宙大尺度结构的形成以及复合之后的再热过程都具有重要意义。     

光学亮星系大尺度分布中的多级结构

本文在Wen等人工作的基础上,对CfA红移巡天样本中银道以北和以南天区中星系的大尺度分布分别进行了分维计算并比较其所得结果。分析表明,这两个区域内星系的大尺度分布存在显著差异。说明CfA样本还不能构成代表宇宙大尺度结构的好样本。另一方面,两个区域中样本分析结果又存在着一些明显的共同点:它们都表现出明显的多级分形特征。结合对IRAS星系红移巡天样本和星系分立小天区红移巡天样本的分析结果。我们认为,多级分形很可能是宇宙大尺度结构的一个普遍和重要的特征。本文对这一特征的含义也作了简略的讨论。     

高红移恒星形成星系的研究

<正>星系是组成宇宙的基石,其形成与演化是天体物理研究的重要内容.星系中的恒星形成活动是星系成长和演化的主要驱动力之一.已有的星系巡天给出比较一致的宇宙恒星形成历史:宇宙的恒星形成密度从高红移一直增加到红移z~2,随后按指数率下降直到z=0.系统地研究宇宙恒星形成峰值时期恒星形成星系的性质对我们理解并限制星系形成与演化的理论模型至关重要.     

宇宙中的引力透镜现象

本文评述了近十年来所发现的引力透镜事例及其理论解释,讨论了利用引力透镜现象研究宇宙大尺度结构,星系结构、类星体性质、暗物质性质及宇宙弦特性等一系列问题,展示了引力透镜效应这一活跃研究领域之全貌。     

大天区星系红移巡天

星系的红移巡天是观测宇宙学中最基本的工作,有关宇宙大尺度结构研究中的许多关键问题,例如宇宙中最大结构的尺度,宇宙中大尺度结构的拓扑特征,以及有关宇宙物质分布的密度场和速度场的许多基本性质的研究,都依赖于覆盖面积足够大、极限星等足够暗的完备的星系红移大样本。通过对巡天的覆盖天区、巡天深度、选择方法、巡产率等方面的分析,比较了最近已完成的一些红移巡天（ＩＲＡＳ、ＣｆＡ、ＳＳＲＳ、ＯＲＳ和ＬＣＲＳ等）并     

大天巨星系红移巡天

星系的红移巡天是观测宇宙学中最基本的工作,有关宇宙大尺度结构研究中的许多关键问题,例如宇宙中最大结构的尺度,宇宙中大尺度结构的拓扑特征,以及有关宇宙物质分布的密度场和速度场的许多基本性质的研究,都依赖于覆盖面积足够大、极限星等足够暗的完备的星系红移大样本．通过对巡天的覆盖天区、巡天深度、选样方法、巡样率等方面的分析,比较了最近已完成的一些红移巡天（IRAS、CfA、SSRS、ORS和LCRS等）并对计划中的2dF和SDSS巡天计划作了简要介绍．     

宇宙在大尺度上是均匀的吗?

宇宙中的物质在大尺度上是均匀分布的,还是保持着分形分布的特点,成为近年来观测宇宙学中争论的一个热点。Ｐｉｅｔｒｏｎｅｒｏ等人认为直到目前观测到的最大尺度（≈１０００ｈ＾－１Ｍｐｃ）星系的分布仍保持Ｄ≈２的分形结构,而大多数坚持标准模型的宇宙学家都认为宇宙在大尺度上是均匀分布的。宇宙物质在大尺度上是否均匀分布,将由下一代的红移巡天的结果来判断。     

宇宙大尺度结构和原初扰动非高斯性研研究进展

宇宙微波背景辐射(CMB)探测和大尺度结构(LSS)巡天是两种研究宇宙演化的重要手段。近年来高精度的宇宙微波背景辐射实验和大尺度结构巡天可以对今天的宇宙学模型给出精确测量,比如宇宙曲率、暴胀模型参数和原初非高斯性等。宇宙大尺度结构的原初非高斯性揭示了在甚早期宇宙中引发大尺度结构的原初扰动的物理诱发机制,有效地对不同暴胀模型进行区分,是研究甚早期宇宙的有效工具和手段。但是最近的研究结果表明,很多大尺度结构巡天的数据被系统误差严重污染,如大气视宁度、天光背景等,这些误差导致由大尺度结构巡天数据给出的原初非高斯的研究结果与实际情况相差甚远。大尺度结构巡天数据的系统误差消除和它对限制宇宙原初非高斯性的改善,对更好地了解甚早期宇宙具有重要意义。     

《国家重点基础研究发展规划》项目:“21世纪天体物理重大问题:星系形成和演化”项目介绍

20世纪人类在探索宇宙奥秘的道路上取得了辉煌的成就 .其主要标志是恒星的内部结构与演化理论和宇宙大爆炸标准模型的建立。这一理论框架为宇宙中一切物质 ,包括基本粒子 ,原子 ,分子 ,行星 ,恒星 ,生命的产生和发展提供统一的科学图象 ,受到越来越丰富的观测的支持。然而在大爆炸宇宙模型和恒星演化理论之间存在一个人们了解甚少的领域 :就是由大量恒星组成而又作为宇宙基本单元的星系是如何形成和演化的 ?回答这一重要问题无疑是对 2 1世纪天文学的重大挑战。世界发达国家正在投巨资建造新一代巨型天文设备 ,如各个波段的地面的和空间的望远镜 ,把人类探测能力延伸到宇宙演化的早期。中国也己确定星系形成与演化作为我国天文学科发展的国家目标之一 ,在国家重大科学工程中安排大天区面积多目标光纤光谱天文望远镜———LAMOST以增加我国在这一重大领域的竞争力。“星系形成和演化”项目的目标 ,就是要在LAMOST建成之前 ,充分利用国内中小设备和国外大型设备资料 ,开展大样本统计 ,数值模拟和理论研究 ,提高我国在这一领域的开拓创新的能力 ,形成在国际上有竞争力的队伍 ,在若干优选的课题方向上先期做出有高显示度的成果 ,以期在LAMOST建成之后 ,我国在宇宙大尺度结构 ,星系形成与演化方面跻身国际先     

The effect of cosmological background dynamics on the spherical collapse in MOND

The effect of background dynamics of the universe on formation of large scale structures in the framework of Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND) is investigated. A spherical collapse model is used for modeling the formation of the structures. This study is done in two extreme cases: (i) assuming a universe with a low-density baryonic matter without any cold dark matter and dark energy; (ii) a dark energy dominated universe with baryonic matter, without cold dark matter. We show that for the case (ii) the structures virialize at lower redshifts with larger radii compared to the low-density background universe. The dark energy slow downs the collapse of the structures. We show that our results are compatible with recent simulations of the structure formation in MOND.     

等离子天体物理学与现代等离子体宇宙观

现代科学表明宇宙中99%以上的可观测物质都处于等离子体状态,从小尺度的微观粒子动力学集体过程与能量转换机制到大尺度的宇宙等离子天体结构状态与爆发活动现象,都是等离子天体物理学的研究课题.从宇宙演化历史、大尺度结构形成以及爆发活动现象等方面,系统地论述了等离子天体物理学在现代天文学发展以及现代等离子体宇宙观形成中的重要作用.同时,结合空间卫星科学探测研究及其对现代天文学的巨大影响,进一步阐述了地球磁层和日球层等空间等离子体实地探测研究在等离子天体物理学研究中所扮演的“天然实验室”的独特作用.     

Large-scale cosmic homogeneity from a multifractal analysis of the PSCz catalogue

We investigate the behaviour of galaxy clustering on large scales using the PSC z catalogue. In particular, we ask whether there is any evidence of large-scale fractal behaviour in this catalogue. We find the correlation dimension in this survey varies with scale, consistent with other analyses. For example, our results on small and intermediate scales are consistent those obtained from the QDOT sample, but the larger PSC z sample allows us to extend the analysis out to much larger scales. We find firm evidence that the sample becomes homogeneous at large scales; the correlation dimension of the sample is D ₂=2.992±0.003 for r >30  h ⁻¹ Mpc. This provides strong evidence in favour of a universe that obeys the cosmological principle.     

Magnetic fields in galaxies

Summary Recent years have seen an amazing development in our knowledge of the magnetic fields in the universe. The last ten years were crucial in our realization of the importance of the magnetic fields in galaxies. While a lot of the earlier data on our Galaxy depended on optical observations, the bulk of the recent results depend on radio measurements. The radio Zeeman effect gave us new information on magnetic fields in molecular clouds. The mapping of galaxies at several radio frequencies resulted in new knowledge about the large-scale magnetic fields in these basic building blocks of the universe. These exciting observations have led to new theoretical developments. In particular, the dynamo theory of flat objects received much attention since the observed large-scale structures can best be explained through the action of the dynamo effect. This review will attempt to summarise the observational evidence and to give viable explanations for the magnetic fields in galaxies.     

MBR as the relic of big bang

In this talk I outline some of the arguments in support of a cosmological and primordial origin of the observed microwave background radiation (MBR) in the early hot phase of the universe. This interpretation of the MBR is at the heart of the hot Big Bang model (HBBM) of the universe. The observed Planckian energy distribution of the microwave photons reflects the thermal equilibrium that can be set up naturally within HBBM in the dense early universe. Alternate interpretations face the challenge of extremely tight constraints on deviations from a Planckian distribution. Within HBBM, the formation of large scale structure is linked to tiny anisotropies in the angular distribution of the MBR photons. Recent measurements of these anisotropies seem to be broadly consistent with the predictions of the current scenarios of structure formation in the universe. Since these predictions are based on HBBM, the concurrence of data with theory provides additional support in favour of viewing the MBR as the relic of Big Bang.     

A full-sky prediction of the Sunyaev–Zeldovich effect from diffuse hot gas in the local universe and the upper limit from the WMAP data

We use the Point Source Catalogue Redshift Survey galaxy redshift catalogue combined with constrained simulations based on the IRAS 1.2-Jy galaxy density field to estimate the contribution of hot gas in the local universe to the Sunyaev–Zeldovich (SZ) effect on a large scale. We produce a full-sky healpix map predicting the SZ effect from clusters as well as diffuse hot gas within  80  h ⁻¹ Mpc  . Performing cross-correlation tests between this map and the WMAP data in pixel, harmonic and wavelet space we can put an upper limit on the effect. We conclude that the SZ effect from diffuse gas in the local universe cannot be detected in current cosmic microwave background (CMB) data and is not a large-scale contaminating factor  (ℓ < 60)  in studies of CMB angular anisotropies. We derive an upper limit for the mean temperature decrement of  Δ T < 0.33 μK  at the 2σ confidence level for the 61-GHz frequency channel. However, for future high-sensitivity experiments observing at a wider range of frequencies, the predicted large-scale SZ effect could be of importance.     

Shock waves in the large-scale structure of the Universe

Cosmological shock waves are induced during hierarchical formation of large-scale structure in the universe. Like most astrophysical shocks, they are collisionless, since they form in the tenuous intergalactic medium through electromagnetic viscosities. The gravitational energy released during structure formation is transferred by these shocks to the intergalactic gas as heat, cosmic-rays, turbulence, and magnetic fields. Here we briefly described the properties and consequences of the shock waves in the context of the large-scale structure of the universe.     

The relation between stellar populations, structure and environment for dwarf elliptical galaxies from the MAGPOP-ITP

Dwarf galaxies, as the most numerous type of galaxy, offer the potential to study galaxy formation and evolution in detail in the nearby universe. Although they seem to be simple systems at first view, they remain poorly understood. In an attempt to alleviate this situation, the MAGPOP EU Research and Training Network embarked on a study of dwarf galaxies named MAGPOP-ITP. In this paper, we present the analysis of a sample of 24 dwarf elliptical galaxies (dEs) in the Virgo cluster and in the field, using optical long-slit spectroscopy. We examine their stellar populations in combination with their light distribution and environment. We confirm and strengthen previous results that dEs are, on average, younger and more metal-poor than normal elliptical galaxies, and that their [α/Fe] abundance ratios scatter around solar. This is in accordance with the downsizing picture of galaxy formation where mass is the main driver for the star formation history. We also find new correlations between the luminosity-weighted mean age, the large-scale asymmetry, and the projected Virgocentric distance. We find that environment plays an important role in the termination of the star formation activity by ram-pressure stripping of the gas in short time-scales, and in the transformation of discy dwarfs to more spheroidal objects by harassment over longer time-scales. This points towards a continuing infalling scenario for the evolution of dEs.     

Testing anthropic predictions for Λ and the cosmic microwave background temperature

It has been claimed that the observed magnitude of the vacuum energy density is consistent with the distribution predicted in anthropic models, in which an ensemble of universes is assumed. This calculation is revisited, without making the assumption that the cosmic microwave background (CMB) temperature is known, and considering in detail the possibility of a recollapsing universe. New accurate approximations for the growth of perturbations and the mass function of dark haloes are presented. Structure forms readily in the recollapsing phase of a model with negative Λ, so collapse fraction alone cannot forbid Λ from being large and negative. A negative Λ is disfavoured only if we assume that formation of observers can be neglected once the recollapsing universe has heated to   T ≳ 8   K  . For the case of positive Λ, however, the current universe does occupy an extremely typical position compared to the predicted distribution on the Λ− T plane. Contrasting conclusions can be reached if anthropic arguments are applied to the curvature of the universe, and we discuss the falsifiability of this mode of anthropic reasoning.